Stolen Body

Before the Crucifixion, it was the religious leaders and Hebrew politicians who were in a tether about Jesus. Now that the body of Jesus was missing, the Romans were upset. How would they solve the problem of his missing body? The Jews couldn’t very well say he had risen from the dead because that would mean they had part in killing the Messiah. The Roman leaders didn’t want an uprising. There was only one reasonable thing to do. They gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, “Tell them, his disciples came at night and stole him away while we slept” (Mt 28:11-15). So the rumor began and has been passed from generation to generation of unbelievers.

How did eleven poor men over power a Roman guard? Why did not at least one of the eleven disciples confess to the hoax instead of being tortured to death? Roman soldiers who lost prisoners were killed. So why weren’t these soldiers? How did five hundred people claim Jesus had appeared to them at the same gathering? Why did his brother James, who did not believe in him when he was alive, suddenly risk his life by saying he had seen him after his death? If someone else besides the disciples stole his body, why didn’t they produce it when the rumors of his resurrection started flying? How could a man survive in a tomb for three days without food and water when he had suffered a crucifixion and had his heart pierced by a spear?

Too many questions and not enough answers for those who do not believe in Jesus’ resurrection.

Some Doubted

The following is one of the most puzzling events in scripture. “Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw him they worshiped him; but some doubted” (Mt 28:16).

What did they doubt? He was standing in front of him. They had touched him (John 20:19, 27; 1 John 1:1). They had eaten fish and bread with him (Luke 24:30-35; John 21:9-13). Surely they could not have been doubting he was alive.

We need to turn to Acts 1:1-3 to get a possible explanation. There we find out that Jesus had been telling them things pertaining to the kingdom of God. He told them that they would make disciples of all nations. They would baptize people and teach them to observe all Jesus had told them (Mt 28:18-20). Maybe those who doubted were remembering how they had failed him, fleeing in the garden and leaving Jesus to face the Romans alone. It must have been difficult for them to see themselves as mighty men of God.

They now knew how weak they were in their own strength. But they were about to be filled with the Holy Spirit and be transformed into steadfast witnesses of eternal life in Christ Jesus (Acts 1:8).

Full Circle

The angels tell the women, “Go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed he is going before you into Galilee; there you will see him. Behold, I have told you” (Mt 28:7). Mary Magdalene was still in such shock at not finding what she expected, the body of Jesus, that the angel’s words did not penetrate. She turns from the angels and sees Jesus standing there, but her shock prevents her from recognizing him. She assumes he is the gardener and pleads with him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away” (John 29:14-15).

Jesus calls her by name, “Mary”. There was no mistaking that voice. She knew who it was, “Rabi”. Then Jesus gave her the same commission as the angels, “…go to my brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my father and you father, and to my God and your God.’” Scripture tells us that Mary did just that.

It was a woman who committed the first sin (Genesis 3:6), and it was a woman to whom Jesus gave the first commission to bring the news of his resurrection.

Isn’t God’s forgiveness wonderful?

Annointing Spices

After the Sabbath the women who followed Jesus went to the tomb to anoint his body with spices (Mk 16:1). We do not know why no men were with them, but we know they were talking about who would roll the stone away from the tomb for them (Mk 16:3). I can’t imagine why they would want to add more spices to the 100 pounds that Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus had wrapped him in. Perhaps they didn’t know it had already been done. We do know they expected to find Jesus’ body there.

Mary Magdalene was so shocked to see the empty tomb that she ran to get Peter and John (John 20:1-2). She was beside herself with sorrow, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tom and we do not know where they have laid him.” Peter and John both run to the tomb and discover the linen strips and the headpiece. They are scared half to death and leave Mary Magdalene and the rest of the women weeping by the tomb (John 20:6-10; 21:11).

After the men left, the angels suddenly appear to Mary and the other women. “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he is risen, as he said. Then the angel gave the women the great commission “Go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen (Mt 28:5-7).